Half to charles h



(No Model.)

G. A. CHRIST.

RAIL JOINT.

No. 434,766 Patented Aug. 19, 1890.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GUSTAVE A. CHRIST, OF GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR OF ONE- HALF TOCHARLES H. PELTON, OF SAME PLACE.

RAIL-JOINT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent 1%. 434,766, dated August19, 1890.

Application filed March 24, 1890 Serial No. 345,118. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GUSTAVE A. CHRIsr, of Grand Rapids, in the county ofKent and State of Michigan, have invented a new and useful Improvementin Rail-Joints; andI do hereby declare that the following is a full,clear, and exact description of the same.

My invention relates to railway-rail joints; and my object in thisinvention is to provide a simple and cheap construction, which alsoshall be sufficiently firm, elastic, and durable under the strain andwear to which such joints are subjected.

The invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1shows it in side elevation; Fig. 2, in section on line a Z) of Fig. 1,and Fig. 3 shows a section on line 0 d of Fig. 1.

In the drawings, A A represent the rail ends of the ordinary form.

The ties are shown at B.

The plate or bar D has plain ends, flat both on the under and uppersurfaces, excepting that it has vertical flanges e on the upper edges.These ends are of suificient extent longitudinally to bear upon theties. Between the ends underneath, and preferably in the center, is avertical flange (l, integral with the bar and preferably about twelveinches in length-in any case enough to extend substantially from tie totie. The depth and thickness may vary, but must be sutflcient to bearthe strains, as hereinafter explained. Preferably the ends of too bar Dare slightly bent downward in that part which rests on the ties to givea camber to the bar. The rails are laid, as shown, with the meeting endsin the center of the plate midway between the adjacent ties. The edgesof the rail-flange are notched on each side for three bolts-one f at thecenter, where the rails meet, and one at each end, or near each end,ofthe flange 61-50 that the end bolts shall be Within the space betweenthe ties. The bar D is provided with holes arranged to register withthese notches, the notches and holes being alike on both sides.

Upon the rail-flanges are clips E, about as long as the flange d, andarranged to bear against the inner faces of the vertical flange '6.These clips have plain upper surfaces adapted to form bearings for thenuts 70. The under surfaces are formed as shown, and have a bearing 011the outer edge near the flange 6 and upon the rail near the edge of theflange and also at the inner edge of the clip at or near the rail=web.The clips have bolt-holes, and the whole is held together by boltsf-three on each side. The rails are spiked on the ties through the bar,as shown at n. The rail. ends over the flange (I bear evenly upon thebar, but do not touch the surface of the bar at the ends when not underthe load, the camber affording some spring movement. Under the strainsof a passing train the flange cl acts both as a tension. and compressionmember alternately, and by reason of the extension of the bar or plate,of which it is a part, over the adjacent ties it acts in relation to theties and modifies or compensates-for the action of said ties. If one ofthe ties B should yield under the load, the weight would be borne by thetie next outside and by the other tie B, and the strain on the flange (1would betensile, while the inclination of the bar end on the tie wouldpermit the necessary spring of the rail. If the tie next outside of thetie B should yield, the leverage would be over tie B as a fulcrum. Thenthe long bearing afforded by the bolt next to the tie B would preventany breaking, as is the tendency where there is only a central bolt,and, further, the upward thrust is taken up by the flange d as acompression member.

The bar is made by rolling'of any length. It is then cut into properlength and the flange dsawed out under the ends, as shown in full, orinclined, as shown in dotted lines.

I claim as my invention- 1. In combination with the bar "D, having theends formed with flat under surfaces and the intermediate flange (Z andwith the flanges e, the clips, and the bolts, said bolts being arrangedat the center and at or near the ends of the flange d, all substantiallyas described. I

2. In combination, the bar having the flat ends and the intermediateflange d, said ends being bent downward, the clips and the bolts allarranged substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

GUSTAVE A. CHRIST. Witnesses: "-L. E. CARROLL,

WM. CALLAGHAN.

